Up to a dozen women who claim they were abused by Rolf Harris contact lawyers
ahead of what could be a flood of compensation claims

Convicted child abuser Rolf Harris faces a flood of compensation claims after dozens more women came forward to allege they had been attacked by the star.

Police have confirmed they are already examining a number of fresh allegations against Harris with a view to future possible charges.

But in addition lawyers who represented victims of Jimmy Savile have said they had also been contacted by 12 women who have complained that he had abused them at some point in the past.

It raises the prospect that his victims could sue for compensation, putting at risk his £11 million fortune.

Richard Scorer, abuse lawyer for Slater & Gordon, who represent 176 victims of Jimmy Savile, said they had been contacted by "up to a dozen people" with allegations about Harris and were considering them carefully.

He said: "We back an overarching inquiry into child abuse once those reports which are still outstanding are completed.

"What we have discovered in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal is just how deep child abuse in institutions ran and how some people were seemingly allowed to continue their sickening crimes unchallenged.

"It is therefore vital we do everything possible now to learn from the mistakes of the past and take this opportunity to toughen the laws around the protection of children and vulnerable adults in institutions."

It is not yet clear whether any of Harris's abuse took place on the premises of the BBC or ITV when he was working there, but it has already been revealed that Savile showed him around Broadmoor on at least one occasion in the 1970s.

Dozens of alleged victims came forward during the eight week trial after gaining the confidence from seeing Harris in the dock.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We have received a number of new allegations and these are now being considered.”

NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless said they had received an "explosion of calls" in the last 24 hours from people concerned about sexual abuse.

He said: “I think this case is symptomatic of an increased confidence that people have now to seek justice for crimes that have been committed against them.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders said it was too early to say whether Harris would face fresh criminal charges.

She said: “We know there has been more reporting, what we don't know yet is whether or not more charges will follow.

“We will work with the police and look at any cases that they send to us to see whether there is enough evidence to bring more charges. So it is too early to say really.”

She added: “These were nasty assaults committed by a man who thought he was not going to be discovered and who thought he was above the law.”

Harris will be sentenced on Friday after he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault against four girls, the youngest of who was just seven-years-old.

But a number of other women, whose alleged attacks took place overseas, including in Australia, also gave evidence at the trial.

Australian police are now understood to be liaising with Scotland Yard and could bring charges of their own against Harris.

Following the news of his conviction Australian prime minister Tony Abbott told ABC radio: “I feel gutted and dismayed but it's very important that we do everything we humanly can to protect vulnerable young people. Sexual abuse is an utterly abhorrent crime.

“It's just sad and tragic that this person who was admired seems to have been a perpetrator.”

The mayor of Perth in Western Australia said the council was considering tearing up a plaque to Harris inlaid in the city's St Georges Terrace.

Lisa Scaffidi told Fairfax radio: “I can't say until the council decision is made but the general feeling around the place is that we don't accept those kind of offences. It's a very sad issue and something we need to deal with.”